Hijum (Friesland, Netherlands)

Hijum was the name of a Mennonite congregation in the province of Friesland. Leenaert Bouwens baptized seven persons here. The first mention of a Hijum congregation is found in the resolutions of the Frisian Mennonite brotherhood in 1713; it consisted then of 15 unsupported members. The name Hijum is also found in the Naamlijst of 1784, but no longer in 1786. Blaupot ten Cate and Wartena assume that the Hijum congregation was at that time merged with Hallum. But in all probability Hijum and Hallum were variant names of the same congregation, the latter being adopted when in 1779 it was decided to build the new church one mile (1.5 km) north in Hallum. Hence the present church at Hallum owns the land (6 acres) which had been the property of the Hijum church. There is no further information on the church at Hijum.